Siphonless vent valve



July 7, 1942. w. K. SIMPSON sIPHoNLE-ss VENT VALVE Filed Oct. 2, 1959 l www Patented July 7, 1942 'ours sri" SEPHONLESS VENT VALVE Application ctober 2, 1939, Serial No. 297,521

11 Claims.

This invention relates to vent valves of the character suitable for use with radiators and other parts of steam heating systems to release air when steam is admitted to such radiators, etc., and prevent escape of steam or water. More particularly it is concerned with vent valves having a lateral branch or nipple for making connection with an upright radiator section or column.

Valves of this character have heretofore been equipped with a siphonic drain tube passing horizontally through the nipple and bent downward at the outer end. The inner end of the tube is coupled with the valve structure by a slip joint to permit self adjustment for diferent conditions of installation. But the various types of radiators differ so much from one another that it is not possible to provide self adjustment through the entire range, and at the same time avoid serious difficulties which either make the valve inoperative or seriously impair its eniciency. The standardized dimensions of the tappings in radiators to receive vent valve nipples preclude making the bore of the nipple much larger than 1/4 in diameter, and this in turn limits the outside diameter of the drain tube to about and its bore to about 5/32. If made with a horizontal leg long Yenough to accommodate the full range of such variations and also to extend far enough into the nipple, its length and small bore cause substantial resistance to water flow and may at times prevent proper drainage, owing to capillary action.

In some radiators with narrow interior passages the drain tube of the character above described touches the back wall of the radiator channel in which it is placed, and being made of brass, while the radiator is of iron or steel, an electrolytic action is then set up under certain water conditions, which causes rapid corrosion of the drain tube. In other radiators the under side of the curved part of the tube bears on the edge of the passageway in which the valve nipple is received and tilts the horizontal leg upward, thus impeding drainage of the Valve. To overcome these diiiiculties the steam fitter frequently rebends the tube or cuts it off, thus making the valve inoperative or highly defective in operation.

One of the objects of the invention is to avoid the difficulties above mentioned. Another object is to shorten the time within which a radiator may be completely relieved of air after steam is turned on and when water surges occur. Another object is to provide a valve of simple design and less costly construction than the best of the commercial valves heretofore produced for venting radiators, etc., which will function substantially as well as the more complicated valves having a. greater number of parts heretofore found necessary to accomplish satisfactory operative results. The manner in which I have accomplished these objects, and the principles of the inventions which I have made in Vaccomplishing them are explained in the following specication in connection with a description of one illustrative embodiment of the invention, and a drawing showing such embodiment.

In the drawingf Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a radiator vent valve embodying the invention; the plane of section being vertical when the valve is in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a partition member which forms a part of such valve and which in one form or another is an essential part of the means for causing water to be drained from the valve without the aid of a siphonic drain tube;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing respectively a horizontal section taken on line 3 3, and a vertical section taken on line 4 4, of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are Views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing an alternative form of the invention.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The valve assemblage shown in Figs. 1-4 comprises a body or casing l, having in its upper end a seat fitting or plug 2 and closed at the lower end by a base 3; a nipple 5 projecting from the side of the casing; a float ii, which is also a thermostat, within the casing; and a valve pin 'l carried by the iioat. As in other valves of this class, the tting 2 contains a vent port or passage 8 and a valve seat 9, against which the tapered end of the valve stem 'l bears in closing; and the float is hollow, having a bottom wall I0 which constitutes a diaphragm, and containing a quantity of volatile liquid. When the float is not supported by water, the diaphragm rests on a boss l I which rises from the base 3; and if the volatile liquid is not expanded, the valve stem is withdrawn from the seat 9, leaving the vent passage open. A cavity l2 in the inner part of the plug 2, larger than the valve stem, retains the latter, when open, inthe position to engage the valve seat when raised either by distention of the diaphragm or flotation.

The nipple 5 is threaded externally and has an internal passage or bore I3. rl'hese parts have dimensions which are standard for the corresponding parts of all so called angle shank Valves, i. e., valves which have a lateral connecting shank or nipple. The inner end of the nipple in this construction is enlarged to provide an internal chamber I4 open to the interior of the valve casing, and of which the uppermost point is substantially higher than the top of the bore I3. The lateral bounding walls of the chamber are likewise outside of the walls of the bore. Preferably the chamber is cylindrical and concentric with the bore, but these details may be modified within the scope of the invention.

A partition member I5 is located horizontally in the bore dividing it into two passages, one above the other, of which the upper one serves as an air inlet passage and the lower one as a water outlet passage or exit when the valve cas- '.f

ing is being drained. The partition member is preferably made of sheet metal thick enough to be stiff and to give immunity from accidental bending or other distortion under normal conditions of use. to the bore to permit being passed into the bore and to be supported by the walls thereof in an approximately diarnetral position. It may be provided with laterally extending abutments I6 near its inner end, and with upstanding lugs or wings I'I, separated by a notch I 8 at the inner end, such wings being separated from the abutments by a distance less (or, at most, no greater) than the depth of chamber Ill from the inner end of the nipple. The combined width of the abutments is substantially equal to the diameter of the chamber I4, and the ears or wings I'I are shaped to t approximately the walls of the chamber. The abutments I6 bear against the internal shoulder I9 within the nipple and establish a separation between this shoulder and the wings II, while locating the Wings in the chamber. rThe wings collectively serve as a baille against ow of air through the nipple above the partition member, limiting the flow to that permitted by the openingl I8. The outer end of the partition member protrudes from the nipple and forms a tongue which is curved downward. Such tongue so protrudes to a distance no greater than the width of the stearn passage i'n the .of

narrowest radaitor sections, and the extent of its bending is such that it does not project downward beyond the side of the nipple. In other Words, its extremity lies within the projected external circumference of the nipple. Thus the extremity of the tongue cannot touch the interior of the radiator tapping in which the nipple is mounted, even though the nipple may not extend through the entire length of the tapped passage. insertable part of the nipple and the protruding tongue is so short that the end of the tongue cannot reach to the back wall of even the narrowest of radiator sections.

The construction just described provides separate air entrance and water exit passages in the radiator nipple or shank, without obstruction between the water passage and the interior of the casing, and with the air passage opening into a space at higher elevation (the upper part of the chamber I4) within the nipple, from which a restricted opening to the interior of the casing is provided by the notch I8. Other constructions of partition member and chamber I4 which embody these characteristics of separate air and Its width is nearly enough equal Moreover the combined length of the water drainage passages are within the scope of the invention. But the enlarged chamber, although a desirable feature, is not an essential of the invention, and an alternative form is later described which has no such enlargement.

The bottom of the bore I3 establishes the low water level within the casing, which is indicated by the line A, A. The base part of the casing is extended below this Water line far enough, and the Weight of the combined oat and valve unit and diameters of the float and valve casing are designed with such valves, that the float will rest on the boss II when the water is drained to the level A, A', but the float will then be so nearly supported by water that a slight rise of the water level, as to the line B, B', will cause it to be wholly supported by water. This is the level of flotation, and is well below the partition I5 and near the bottom of the bore. The line C, C' indicates the water level which causes closing of the valve. This level is determined by the distance between the wide open and the closed positions of the valve, and is located well below the top of the bore I3. The difference between the levels A, A and B, B is a factor of safety to insure that the oat will be solidly supported and not adrift when the water is at its lowest level, and to allow tolerance for manufacturing variations in the weights of different floats intended to be identical.

The characteristics of the valve hereinbefore described enable it to release air from a radiator, after steam is turned on, efliciently and in the shortest possible time permitted by the area of the Vent port 8, under all conditions. If steam enters the radiator continuously and without interruptions or disturbances, the vent valve remains continuously open and permits uninterrupted escape of air until closed by thermostatic action when substantially all the air is expelled and steam enters the valve. But generally the rapid condensation of steam flowing through cold pipe connections and entering a cold radiator, in a one pipe heating system, produces volumes of water which obstruct the steam passages and are caused by the working pressure to surge more or less violently upward in the radiator and into the relief valve casing. A radiator is said to work water when such surges occur. As the water rushes into the valve casing, it closes the valve by raising it through the short distance between the levels A, A and C, C', and then rises further, compressing the air entrapped in the casing. Such rise is checked when the compressed air pressure becomes substantially equal to the service pressure. Valves made according to this invention with an enlargement in the nipple passage, such as the chamber I4, are designed with reference to the service pressures under which they are to be used, and are made with such proportions that the level at which the rising water is thus checked will be preferably below, and at the highest not much above, the top of the chamber. An approximation of such level is indicated by the line D, D in Fig. l. After checking of a surge, water proceeds to leave the valve, and when it drops below the level C, C', the float descends and the vent port opens.

It is desirable that the opening of the port be delayed until all excess water has drained out of the radiator, for it has been noted that valves which respond quickly to the lowering of the water in the radiator permit an immediate return flow of water to the valve casing, whereby they are again closed and venting is interrupted. With such valves the venting capacity during the period when the radiator works water is only from to 35% of the venting capacity when the port is open continuously.

One of the problems solved by the present invention is to retard and control the response of the Valve to lowering of water in the radiator so as to permit excess water to leave the radiator and thus obtain a longer period of continuous venting before the water again rises and causes the float to close the vent. With fewer operations of the float, as obtained by this invention, the venting capacity under surging conditions is from 60% to '75% of that of the continuously open port.

The partition member, with its protruding downturned tongue 2t! at a suitable distance from the nipple end, baiiie I1, and opening I8 having correct proportions with reference to the vent port 3 and water exit passage I 3a, obtains a pulsating eifect in draining the valve which slows down the rate of drainage without sacricing certainty of drainage. Water flows by capillarity along the partition and forms drops at the extremity of the tongue. Each drop falling from the tongue is replaced by an equal volume of air which passes through the opening I8 into the casing and rises above the water level. The small area and horizontal disposition of the water passage Ita., and absence of any siphonic extension prevents continuous uninterrupted flow of the water therefrom until the water level has descended below the horizontal main portion of the partition, and the Water leaves the casing drop by drop from the end of the tongue. This action causes a slow drainage of the valve different from the quick steady ow obtained with a siphon or drain tube, and delays opening of the vent valve for a time which by suitable adjustment, as later described, may be as long as three or four minutes. This is sufcient to permit the radiator to be cleared of water. Thereafter the vent opens, and remains open to permit continuous release of air until the radiator is iilled with steam, unless a further quantity of water accumulates in the radiator and again surges to close the valve. But after each surge of water, the same action is repeated until stable conditions are attained.

Control of the rate of drainage is afforded by the area of the opening I8 and also by the area of the space between the tongue 2D and the adjacent end of the nipple. The tongue may be bent more or less sharply and located more or less near to the lower lip of the nipple. It may be set so close to the nipple that the withholding force due to capillarity is greater than the force of gravity and water will not run out; or its extremity may be displaced from the nipple so far that the capillary effect at that point is less than that within the water passage Ita. Other things being equal, the rate of formation of drops at the end of the tongue, and release of the drops, is generally more rapid in proportion as the tongue extremity is more distant from the lower edge of the nipple. However, if the tongue is extended horizontally in line with the partition, or nearly so, the formation of drops at its extremity is impeded. With the tongue extended and located at different points between these extremes, the valve will drain at different rates. By roughening the under side of the tongue, a greater capillary withholding effect may be obtained than when the surface is smooth. Any

type of straight or bent tongue `may be used within the scope of my invention.

Variations in the area of the opening I 8 influence the capillary effect in the passage I3a as a whole. If made so small that, when blocked by water, air cannot enter the valve, water will not drip from the tongue. If made too large so that air may enter too freely, the dripping and pulsating effect will not occur, and the valve Will drain too rapidly; unless the tongue is set to choke the outlet and retard drainage in the manner previously described. The proper size of the opening and setting of the tongue are determined empirically with respect to a particular valve to cause complete drainage in a desired length of time, and the partitions for all Valves of the same dimensions and service are then made with the characteristics so determined.

It has been previously stated that the enlarged chamber at the inner end of the nipple passage is not an essential of the invention; and in Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown an equivalent embodir'nent wherein the nipple passage is of uniform diameter throughout, and the inner end of the partition member, with its baffle wings or lugs, is made to fit. Corresponding reference characters, modified by the exponent a, designate the parts and elements corresponding to those shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4. As to the parts not shown in Fig. 5, the valve there represented may be understood to be identical with that fully shown in Fig. 1. The nipple 5a is of standard dimensions. The partition I 5a and wings I'Ia have dimensions that require a forced t in the bore of the nipple; and in addition the tongue is soldered to the walls of the nipple along its longitudinal edges. Its width is equal to the diameter of the bore so that it is located in the mid height of the bore. Before the partition is made fast, the wings are located at a distance outward from the inner end of the bore sufficient to provide a chamber Ilia equivalent in function to the enlarged chamber It of the form first described. Although with this construction the opening I8a is necessarily smaller than the opening I8 in the enlarged chamber, the difference in area is compensated for by regulation of the space between the tip of the tongue and the lip of the nipple, as previously described.

It will be observed that the novel characteristics of the valve connection 5, including the partition member, herein described, not only obviate the difficulties met with in the use of siphonic drainage tubes, but also obtain novel and useful effects in the venting action. An important contributing factor to the latter effect is the low water level of valve notation herein described.

The relatively low water levels, in cooperation with the chamber |13, baffle Il and passage I8 also obtain useful effects similar to those described in my copending application Serial No. 229,887, filed September 14, 1938, in respect t0 avoidance of water logging, prevention of water leakage and spitting, and eicient drainage, without the use of internal shells, partitions or the like. In all particulars except for the elimination of the drainage tube and substitution of the partition and baffle member in the connecting shank, the valve here illustrated is like one of the forms of valve disclosed in said prior application.

In this specification and in the following claims the term "radiator is used to signify and include any part of a steam heating system which may collect air when cold and require to be vented when steam is turned on. That is, the term has no limiting signiiicance with respect to the design, construction or location of such radiators, and includes pipe coils, single pipes, and other receivers or conductors of steam as well as the structures which are conventionally designated as radiators.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vent Valve for steam radiators comprising a casing having a vent port and a lateral nipple for connection with such a radiator, a float valve within the casing, and means in the nipple organized to cause drainage of water at a controlled rate from the casing after rise of water therein to a height substantially above the level which causes closing of the valve, said means comprising a horizontal partition member in the nipple having an outwardly protruding tongue, the outer extremity of which tongue is below the general level of the partition and within the projection of the under side ci the nipple.

2. A vent valve comprising a casing having a vent port and a tubular nipple extending from its side, a valve and float unit contained within the casing for closing and opening said port with rise and descent of the iioat, the casing and float being constructed to bring the water line of notation at a level near that of the bottom of the nipple bore and the valve closing water line at a level below the top of such bore, and a partition member dividing the nipple bore into upper and lower passages and protruding from the outer end of the nipple, the outer end of said lower passage being open and in free communication at both sides of the protruding portion or" the partition with the contiguous outer space.

3. A siphonless vent valve comprising a casing, a tubular nipple extending from one side of the casing having a chamber in its innermost part communicating with the interior of the casing at a level above the top of the bore through the outer part of the nipple, a partition extending through such bore and dividing it into upper and lower passages, a baffle in said chamber joined to the inner end portion oi the partition and containing a transverse opening, and a tongue joined to the outer end of the partition extending outward and downward from the end of the nipple terminating within the projected circumference of the nipple.

4. A vent valve for steam heating systems comprising a casing, a nipple projecting from the side of the casing having an internal bore and an enlarged chamber connecting such bore with the interior of the casing at a height above the top of the bore, a partition member extending through the bore occupying a substantially horizontally diametral position therein and dividing the bore into upper and lower passages, said partition having lateral abutments contained in the said chamber in engagement with the intermediate surface between the bore and chamber, and having also an upstanding baffle within the chamber spaced apart from said intermediate surfaee and containing an opening, and the partition having a downturned tongue on its outer end outside of the nipple.

5. A vent valve for steam heating systems comprising a casing having a vent port in its upper portion, a oat within the casing, a valve member carried by the oat in position to open and close said port with rise and descent of the float, a tubular nipple projecting from the side of the casing, the oat and casing being designed to bring the water line of flotation of the oat approximately at the level of the low water line established by the nipple, a partition extending through the bore of the nipple dividing the same into upper and lower passages, having a downturned tongue at its end outside of the nipple and terminating at a point near the end of the nipple and above the projected line of its under side, and a baffle joined to the partition and rising therefrom between the outer end of the nipple bore and the interior of the casing, having an opening arranged to permit restricted air flow to the casing with dripping of water from the extremity of the tongue when the water level in the casing is above the partition.

6. In a vent valve of the type having a vent port, a float supported valve element for closing and opening said port and a lateral nipple for mounting a valve in the side of a steam heating radiator or the like, means for draining the valve at a regulated rate when water has risen in the valve to a level higher than that which causes closing of the vent port, consisting of a water leader extending through the nipple and. dividing the nipple into approximately equal upper and lower passages and terminating at a point beyond the outer end of the nipple and within the projected exterior circumference of the nipple.

7. A vent valve of the type having a casing provided with a lateral nipple, a vent port in its upper part, and a iioat supported valve element arranged to control said port, characterized by separated air and water passages within the nipple, one above the other, and means extending the upper boundary of the water passage outward from the nipple and downwardly to a termination within the projected extension of the nipple walls, the lateral boundaries of the water passage terminating at the extremity of the nipple.

8. A siphonless vent Valve for steam heating systems comprising a casing having a vent port, a float supported valve element for closing and opening said vent port, a lateral nipple for mounting the valve in connection with a steam receiver, said nipple having an interior horizontal partition beginning near the inner end thereof and extending from side to side thereof and dividing the nipple into upper and lower passages, and an extension of said partition providing a tongue projecting from the outer extremity of said nipple, said projecting tongue being arranged to cooperate with the partition in causing flow of water from the nipple by capillary action, the extremity of the tongue being spaced apart from the nipple extremity and located within the projection of the outer surface of the nipple.

9. A siphonless vent valve comprising a casing having a vent port, a float supported valve arranged to open and close said port with rise and descent of water in said casing, a lateral nipple protruding from the casing, a horizontal partition plate in said nipple dividing it into passages for air and water, one above the other, both communicating with the interior of the casing, said partition plate projecting beyond the end of said nipple forming a tongue projecting from the end of the nipple remote from the casing and being arranged to conduct water by capillarity to its extremity when the valve is mounted in normal relation to a radiator and contains water to a height above the said partition.

10. A Vent valve for steam heating systems comprising a casing, a nipple projecting from the side of the casing having an internal bore and an enlarged chamber connecting such bore with the interior of the casing at a height above the top of the bore, a partition member extending through the bore occupying a substantially horizontally diametral position therein and dividing the bore into upper and lower passages, said partition abutting the sides of said nipple and terminating short of the inner extremity of the nipple but extending beyond the outer extremity of the nipple, said extending portion providing a tongue outside the nipple to facilitate the drainage of water through the lower passage of said nipple.

1l. In a vent Valve of the type having a casing,

a vent port, a float-supported valve element for opening and closing said port, and a lateral nipple for mounting the valve in connection with a steam receiver, means located in the nipple for causing water occupying the valve to a height above that which causes closing of the Vent port, to leave said nipple intermittently With a pulsating action, said means comprising a plate extending through the nipple and dividing the nipple into substantially equal upper and lower passages both of which are open at the end of the nipple remote from the casing, said plate extending beyond the end of the nipple to form a tongue integral therewith to facilitate the 15 drainage of water from the lower passage.

WILL'IAM K. SIMPSON. 

